Mutara’s group of Ex Orphans visited the orphans again in the morning to share lucerne with them. Between the Ex Orphans and the dependent, they made sure all the lucerne cubes were collected up between them.

The orphans were all very busy browsing with Garzi and Kithaka browsing high in the trees for the little green leaves. Lemoyian on the other side was scratching on a rock. Other elephants were spread out throughout the bush to browse. Olsekki and Sirimon browsed together while Karisa walked here and there in search of fresh leaves. Ukame looked tired and rested her head on a tree. Dupotto later led the group to mud bath.

The orphans had their milk but did not go in the mud bath. Instead they came across a small water pool from the rain which was a bit warmer, and started playing in it. After, they were all busy browsing again with all of the orphans concentrating on filling their stomachs. Later they found another small pool of rain water and some started playing in it. Later they walked back home in the evening for their milk; Barsilinga, Kithaka, Garzi and Laragai were reluctant to walk at the same pace as others while heading home as they have been weaned off their milk.

Back in the stockade, we had all the Ex Orphans from Yatta’s herd and their babies, except Nasalot and her baby Nusu. They visited the stockade, drank water and hung around for a little while before going back into the Park. There was no rain today.

Mutara’s group visited early in the morning and waited for the orphans to come out and join them. They ate the lucerne cubes together and interacted for awhile before walking out to the bush. In the bush, all the orphans were busy browsing despite the dry, hot weather. Olsekki and Siangiki browsed together and Shukuru went to play in the mud before scratching on a tree. Kamok later led the group to the mud bath for their milk.

All the orphans enjoyed playing in the mud bath after their milk. They were all swimming in a line with Dupotto and Kamok leading. Then they came out and slowly walked off into the bush to browse again. Kithaka and Garzi started play fighting and later joined their friends who were already browsing. Roi was playing with some soil whilst Shukuru was searching for fresh food. Olsekki ran towards a water hole and started playing in it. He called all his friends to join him. They all played vigorously with Shukuru rolling around in the mud like a young baby elephant! The group then made their way back home in the evening for their milk. There was no rain today.

The orphans happily enjoyed their lucerne cubes this morning without being disturbed by their fellow Ex Orphans. In the bush they were all busy finding food and Tusuja was spotted sipping rain water from a rock with his trunk. Shukuru was busy walking in search of fresh leaves and was being very picky. They came across a pool of water in the bush and started playing. Kithaka browsed high in search of fresh leaves.

At the mud bath, after they had their milk, they were apparently still thirsty and walked straight to the water trough to drink water. Then the orphans went to the mud bath and started swimming. When they were done they all walked back into the trees with Olsekki and Enkikwe enjoying a play fight as they walked along. It was hot and they were standing under some shade. Kithaka scratched his trunk on the trunk of a tree. Kamok and Ukame browsed together. The group later came across a small pool of water again and started playing; Shukuru was the most playful of all. They then walked back to the stockades in the later afternoon. We had no more rain today.

After the rain last night it was a quiet morning this morning. The orphans are very happy about the weather and are so playful and active. They came straight to the lucerne feeding area after their milk and started feasting straight away. After they were done they all walked out to the bush to browse. Lemoyian and Laragai were climbing on top of the rock in search of fresh vegetation. It was very cool and all the orphans were feeding comfortably in the weather. Kithaka came across a small mud pool all to himself and was busy enjoying it. His other friends, led by Naseku, were playing on the ground as they rolled in the soil. The group later walked towards mud bath for their milk.

As it was so cool no one bothered to play in the mud bath. Some walked to the water trough, drank some water and then walked straight back out to browse. It was cool with a slight wind, which made the orphans not want to play. As they were browsing it began drizzling again and later they made their way back to the stockades in the evening for their milk. Today we recorded only 5mm of rain. It’s cold and wet and no Ex Orphans or wild elephants appeared at the stockade or mud bath today.

The orphans walked down to the lucerne feeding area and met with Madiba and some of the Ex Orphans where they started sharing lucerne. Kamok was scratching on a rock while Lemoyian and Enkikwe enjoyed a play fight. Olsekki and Sirimon, Madiba and Kithaka were also play-fighting. Later the group walked to the bush to browse.

Out in the bush, Lemoyian was playing and rolling on the ground as we enjoyed some drizzle last night and the earth was wet and fun to roll in. The weather was very cool today. After a few minutes, it started raining again and the elephants were very happy and active, with everyone trying to play in the rain. Kamok scratched on a rock for a bit and then all the orphans decided to walk to the mud bath area for their milk. During their usual mud bath time it was raining and no one wanted to play in the mud wallow, but instead they drank milk and then returned to the bush.

It was very wet but the orphans continued to feed to fill up their tummies before they returned home for the night. We recorded 8mm of rainfall today and we still expect more. As it is raining the Ex Orphans appear to have disappeared for the time being, as they usually do when the rains come and they have more access to food and water in the area.